Kompany: Van Dijk is the best Premier League defender of all time

Former Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany has explained the reasons why he thinks Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in Premier League history.

The Belgian won four Premier League titles during his 11-year stint in Manchester and is highly-regarded by many as one of the best ever centre-half's in top flight history.

Van Dijk is yet to claim a Premier League winner's medal but Kompany still thinks Van Dijk is the greatest centre-back.

The 34-year-old told Sporf: "I would choose Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in Premier League history.

"It is a strange choice, because he is not in the scene as long as boys like [John] Terry and [Rio] Ferdinand. Those boys have played in the league for a very long time.

"But the signals that Van Dijk gives in his last few seasons make it so clear that if he had gone to the absolute top before, he would be even further."

The Anderlecht player and manager has also pointed out the immediate transformation the Dutch stalwart had on Liverpool's back-line when joining the club in January, 2018.

"He makes a huge difference to his team. A defender never stands alone, it is about his communication with teammates and how you make your team stronger.

"The Liverpool before Van Dijk was there and the Liverpool after Van Dijk was a completely different team.

"That is why I choose him as the best defender from the Premier League ever."